Concert Ticket Prices Are Exorbitant, but These Fans Don't Care

It's no secret concert tickets are wildly expensive. In 2024, the top 100 touring artists in North America brought in $6.2 billion, with the average gross per concert coming in at $1.86 million. To break that down from the fan perspective, the average cost of attending a concert in 2024 was $136, though some tickets, like those for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, sold for over $20,000 for a front-row floor seat. Have we officially reached a breaking point?

Here's the catch: some loyal fans are unfazed by these prices. (That is, if they're able to get their hands on a ticket in the first place.) "As long as Trump doesn't put a tariff on concert tickets, I'm going," Jessica, a 36-year-old communications manager, tells PS. "Music has always spoken to me and been the No. 1 thing to help me heal if I'm in an emotional rut, so I'm willing to spend a lot of money on a live show."

This year, Jessica doled out a total of $800 to attend both nights of Oasis's tour stop in Los Angeles. She also bought a $136 general admission ticket for a two-day music festival outside Paris, in addition to the $1,500 she spent on airfare and accommodations once there.

How does she manage to keep up with soaring prices? "There is absolutely no Postmates or Uber Eats, I make most of my coffee at home, and I always try to find the most cost-effective option when grocery shopping," Jessica says. "I would much rather spend my money on experiences instead of material goods, so I'm willing to pass on a new pair of shoes for an amazing concert."

Katherine, a 27-year-old marketing professional, wholeheartedly agrees. She saw Harry Styles ten times during his Love On Tour, including five out of the 15 nights he played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Most of those tickets were between $200 and $450 apiece, but she splurged even more and spent $700 when Styles played in Los Angeles and $1,200 for a VIP ticket when he headlined Coachella in 2022 (which, at the time, was equivalent to her monthly rent).

"I don't regret a thing," Katherine says. "Live music is one of the best gifts in the world, and I love being a fangirl." Katherine says she's also made lifelong friends at Harry Styles concerts.

But again, that's not without sacrifice and serious planning. Since Katherine was a teenager, she's put a small portion of every paycheck into a separate bank account specifically devoted to concerts. Even so, with the price of tickets increasing every year, she's still had to cut back on other costs to make it all happen. "I've lived in Los Angeles and New York City, which are both very expensive cities, so I've had to scale back on dinners with friends, expensive grocery stores, sweet treats, and store-bought coffee for a few months when I've gone over my concert budget," she says. "I have never been in debt per se, but I've certainly had to be extra mindful of how much money I'm spending on extraneous things."

And while most concertgoers don't regret splurging on a pricey ticket, there are some outside voices who make it a habit to judge their spending habits. Female fans, especially Swifties, are often mocked for scooping up costly concert tickets, while men drop similar amounts (if not more) on sporting events without a peep.

"I typically go to concerts with my friends, so they understand and support the lore of buying an expensive ticket, but I definitely get shamed by people outside my inner circle, typically men, who just don't understand concert culture," Katherine says. "Men go to the Super Bowl or playoff games, which I guarantee are more expensive than most concert tickets, yet women get berated for spending their own money, when it's honestly none of their business."

This is particularly frustrating for many fans, but Erin, who previously spent $300 on Lady Gaga tickets when she wasn't necessarily able to afford it, says any judgment regarding her spending only fuels her love of live performances. "If I'm ever shamed for how much I choose to spend on a concert, it's like a fart in the wind because it simply doesn't matter to me," the 34-year-old tells PS. "Live performances are extraordinary, so as an avid music lover, any shame or guilt from others is meaningless because, in my experience, concerts are worth every penny."

It's clear some concertgoers are willing to rearrange their finances and do whatever it takes to attend a show, but some also wish successful artists did more to cap ticket prices and take care of their faithful fans. "If an artist is making billions of dollars in total revenue, it's time for them to take on the responsibility and address how these ticket prices have skyrocketed," Katherine says.

Ed Sheeran recently took matters into his own hands in an attempt to limit inflated resale ticket prices, and The Cure's Robert Smith is working overtime to reduce hefty "service fees." But ideally more artists will follow suit, especially now that new (exorbitantly priced) tours are underway from Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé. Even Erin drew a line in the sand this time around when tickets to Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball tour were upwards of $1,000.

"I understand we live in a capitalist society, and that it's a hustle for artists to perform and go on tour, but I hope big-time artists make it a point to protect their fans so we can actually afford to see them live," Jessica says. "Everyone is kind of in the shit right now, so we all have to make hard budgeting choices in this economy, but I believe it's an artist's responsibility to stand for their fans and address the larger issue of accessibility."

In the meantime, it seems many die-hard concert fans will continue to do what they do best: they'll wait in long queues, budget accordingly, and have the time of their lives watching their favorite artists perform — no matter what (or how much) it takes.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.